Retaining-guide for counterweight-ropes.



J. L. HARRINGTON, E. E. HOWARD & L. R. ASH.

RETAINING GUIDE FOR COUNTERWEIGHT BOPES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2II I915.

LQMJNI Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l Lou/5 f2 145/7.

J. L. HARRINGTON, E E. HOWARD & L. R. ASH.

RETAINING GUIDE FOR COUNTERWEIGHT ROPES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2|l I915.

1.261 14% Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ill f M l AND LOUIS R. ASH, 01E SAS CITY,

RETAINING-GUIDE FOR COUNTERWEIGHT-ROPES.

main.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, 918..

Application filed October 21, 1915. Serial No. 57,129.

.To all whom it may concern:

'Be it knownthat we, JOHN LYLE HAR- rmeromEnnnsr E. HOWARD, and LOUIS R.Asn,citizens of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in thecounty of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Retaining- Guides for Counterweight-Ropes; and wedo declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to theletters and figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification. I

Our invention relates to a retaining guide for counterweight ropes andmore particularly to a device of this character for use on ropesconnecting a movable bridge span with its counterpoise weight, theprincipal object of the invention being to limit the spreading of theseveral connecting ropes at a point closely adjacent the equalizer,whereby the ropes are connected with the welght or span,

and thereby overcome the loss of energy required for concentrating theropes as the equalizer approaches the overhead sheave wheel and .theresultant pivoting of the equalizer members.

In accomplishing this object we have provided'improved details ofstructure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein.

igure I is a side elevation of one of the towers and part of the span ofan ordinary type of lift bridge, showing the counterweight ropesequipped with our improvements.

Fig. II is an enlarged side elevation of part of the counterweight andits supporting ropes, the latter e'quipped'with our improved detainingguide.

Fig. III is an end view of the same.

Fig. IV is a central vertical section of the guide and parts of thecounterweight ropes.

Fig. is a cross section on the line V-V,

Fig. IV.

Fig. VI is a detail perspective view of one of the guide blocks.

Referring more in detail to the drawingsz- 1 designates a tower, 2 thelift span, 3 the overhead sheave wheel, which is preferably grooved toproperly guide the ropes during 'ing at right angles travel of the span,4 the counterweight, and 5 the connecting ropes of a lift bridge of anyordinary construction and which, as they in themselves form no part ofthe present invention, are not described in detail. present ropes 5 andthe ropes connected with the span. In order to better disclose theconstruction and operation of our improvement we have illustrated a typeof equalizer and will describe its construction in some detail,

with the understanding that the construction or particular location ofthe equalizer forms no part of the present invention.

In lts illustrated form the counterweight 4 consists of paired units 99,having head plates 10-10' at their upper ends, through which the shafts11-ll are projected to carry the equalizer, as presently described.

The equalizer, whereby the ropes 5 are connected with the counterweight,consists of primary bars 1313 which are pivotally mounted on the ends ofthe shafts 11-11, and as the bars and the parts connected therewith areidentical on the separate weight members, we will describe but one indetail, with the understanding that such description relates equally toboth.

The bar 13 is substantially triangular in shape and is pivotally mountedat one of its apices on the bolt 11, and pivotally mounted on pins14-14J that are carried at the u per corners of the bar 13, are paired,secon ary plates 1515 that are substantially similar in construction tothe primarybars 13 in that they are triangular in shape and have baseparts at the top, one of the secondary plates being located on each sideof the bar 13, so that the latter lies betweenthe paired secondaryplates.

Extending through the upper corners of the bars 1515 are bolts 1616 andpivotally mounted on said bolts are links 17--17,having upper and lowerlips extendto each other, so that the lower lips may be nested betweenthe bars 15--l5 while the upper lips 1818 may extend transverselyrelative to the weight 99 Pivotally mounted on pins 191 9' that arecarried by the links 18 are bars 2020', and mounted on spaced pins 21-2l(Fig. III) that are carried by said bars, are socket members 2222,comprising lip members plates 26-26 23-23, that are located between thebars 20-20, and upper socket members 2 l-2 1 within which the lower endsof the cable ropes 5 are secured and permanently anchored.

It is apparent that the equalizer that has been described is one adaptedfor supporting a two-unit counterweight from sixteen cables or ropes,eight of which are run to each end of the weight member, and thus byincluding said equalizer in the connection between the span andcounterweight inequalities in the individual members of the connectorsmay be automatically compensated by shifting of the equalizer members.

As the equalizer mounting is of substantial width, it is apparent thatthe flexible connection, usually comprising ropes or cables, wouldextend fanlike from the sockets and that as the equalizer approaches theupper limit of its travel, upon movement of the span, the ropes approacha perpendicular plane, tangential to the sheave wheel 3, therebyshortening the fan by drawing the ropes toward the perpendicular line ofsus pension from the point of contact with the sheave wheel, and causingthe equalizer members to pivot on the several supports as the fan isshortened, the said parts again pivoting on their mounting as the spanis moved in the opposite direction.

As this play of the ropes or cables and the pivoliing of the equalizermembers represents wor lowered, we have sought to provide means forlimiting such work to a minimum and also to limit the necessity forlubrication of the equalizer parts and the possibility of noisyoperation, by limiting the fan-like spread of the ropes to a minimum andfixed length, and in accomplishing the object of the invention we haveprovided a clamp that is adapted for permanent attachment to the ropesand for holding same in a fixed spreading relation to each other, sothat they extend in straight lines from the sheave wheels to a pointclosely approaching the equalizer, but without interfering with theequalizing movement.

The preferred form of guide which is illustrated in the drawings,consists of paired blocks 25-25, -having curved face provided withlongitudinal grooves 27-27 of the required concavity to snugly seat theropes 5, and having stiffening end portions 28-28 and transverse ribs29-29. The end portions 28-28 of the separate block members areconnected by the end plates 30 which are secured to the blocks by bolts31 that run through the ends plates at opposite ends of the block andthrough the end portions 28-28, the connection being so arranged thatthe upper ends of the block members mate, with the grooves which must beaccomplished by the. mechanism by which the span is raised and 27-27 inregistration, so that the ropes 5 may seat in the grooves and lie snuglyin the tapered channel formed by the cooperating, flared face plates ofthe respective blocks.

With the guide adapted for use on the sixteen rope equalizer shown inthe drawings, each face plate will comprise sixteen separate grooves26-26 so that there may be one groove for each individual rope, theropes that lead to the equalizer member on one of the weights 9-9 lyingin the grooves in the face plate on the block at that side of the guideand the ropes leading to the equalizer member on the other weight lyingin the opposite face plate, so-that each rope may seat freely in anthroughout the length of the block.

In order to prevent the guide from creeping upwardly under the spreadingtension of the ropes, we provide an anchor comprising rods 32-32 whichare pivotally suspended from the end plates 30, preferably by yokes33-33 and carry a cross bar 34 at their lower ends, preferably by meansof the yokes 35-35 that are fixed to the rods and pivotally mounted onthe pins 36-36 on the cross bar, each of said rods being also preferablyprovided with a turnbuckle 37 whereby the guide may be adjusted totighten or loosen the ropes.

Pivotally mounted on the cross bar, also preferably by means of yokes38-38, are rods 39-39 which lie on opposite sides of the equalizer barsand are anchored to the base members etO-l that are carried by the shaft11-11 on the separate weight members 9-9, preferably by having theirlower ends extended through apertures on the lower flange of the basemembers and provided with nuts 11-41 that bear against the under facesof said flanges.

Assuming that a bridge of the character described is equipped connectionhaving an equalizer like the one illustrated in the drawing, or similarthereto, and it'is desired to equip the same with our improved roperetaining guide, the separate guide members are applied to the ropes ata point directly above the equalizer and drawn together until the ropesseat in the grooves 27-27 and are confined by the upper ends of thespaced plates 25-25 so that they may move freely in the guide withoutescaping therefrom. The ropes are held in such position while the endplates 30 are bolted to the body members of the guide to hold the plates25-25 in place and anchor the same to the ropes, the separate clampmembers being suitably held to the ropes during the tightening processin order to prevent their slipping longitudinally therealong under theincreased strain due to spreading tension of the ropes.

When the guide has been applied to the ropes as described, the anchorrods 32-32 individual groove with a counterweight are connected with theend plates of the guide and the rods 3939 are anchored to the base rails-40, so that the guide is held against longitudinal creeping movementalong the ropes, the turnbuckles 37-37 being afterward used, whennecestoward the equalizer.

' the ropes will be limited 'to the parts beattached tween the clamp andthe equalizer, so that there will be slight pivotal movement oftheequalizer members during the movement of the' equalizer at the upperportion of its travel. It is also apparent that the ropes are heldloosely by the guide, so that while their spread is limited, they mayhave free longitudinal movement in the guide to effect the automaticequalization heretofore mentioned.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters-Patent, 1s:

A rope retaining guide comprisin spaced face plates curved from the sameen of the device to form a flaring channel having a confining neck and arelatively wide mouth, the said face plates having longitudinal groovestherein forming rope seats substantially as set forth.

2. A retaining guide comprising separate block members each having acurved face plate and means connecting said blocks to retain the faceplates in spaced relation, the curvature of the face plates forming anar-' row channel therebetweenatone end of the guide and a relativelywide flaring mouth at the opposite end of the guide.

3. A rope retaining guide comprising separate blocks, each compr sing acurved face plate and integralend flange, and end plates to said flangesand retaining the face plates in spaced relation, with the curved facesof the face plates forming a flared channel between the blocks.

4;. A rope retaining guide comprising separate blocks, each comprising acurved face plate and integral end flange, end plates atchannel betweenthe guide by drawing the with the ropes held as plates i spaced tachedto said flanges and retaining the face plates in spaced relation, withthe curved faces of the face plates forming a flared blocks, and meansconnected with said end plates for anchoring the guide. I

5. A rope retaining guide comprising separate blocks, each comprising acurved face plate and integral end flange, end plates attached to saidflanges and retaining the face relation, with the curved faces of'theface plates forming a flared channel between the blocks, meansconnected with said end plates for anchoring the guide, thesaid faceplate having longitudinal grooves for seating the rope substantially asset forth. I

p 6: A retaining guide comprising separate blocks, each having acurvedface plate provided with longitudinal grooves and means forretaining said blocks 1n spaced relation, with the grooves of oppositeface plates registering and the plates lying in close relation at oneend of the blocks to form a restricted neck and flared toward theopposite end of the block to form a mouth substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with a-tower, of-an overhead sheave Wheel on thetower, a. lift span and counterweight, e ualizer shafts on thecounterweight, an equa 'zer mounted on the shafts, ropes connected withthe equalizer, -a retaining guide on sald ropes, base ti -it bars onsaid shafts, rods connected with the v retaining guide, rods pivotallyconnected with the base bars, and-a cross bar plvotally connecting theretalning guide and base bar ods 8. The combination with a tower, of anoverhead sheave wheel on the tower, a lift span and counterweight,equalizer shafts on the counterweight, an equalizer mounted on saidshafts, ropes connected with theequalizer, a retaining guide on saidropes, base bars on said shafts, rods connected with the retainingguide, rods pivotally connected with the base bars, and a cross bar pivotally connecting the retaining guide and base bar rods.

In testimony whereof we aifix our signatures.

JOHN LYLE HARRINGTON. ERNEST E. HOWARD. LOUIS a. ASH.

